India Forces Greater Scrutiny On Pakistan's Antiterror Enforcement

Pakistan is under increased scrutiny for its enforcement of UN financial sanctions against terrorists after a move by India blocking China's bid to shield Pakistan.

The Financial Action Task Force will be closely monitoring Pakistan through the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering for its enforcement of freezes on the economic resources and properties of three terrorists on the UN's Al-Qaeda sanctions list: Hafiz Saeed, Dawood Ibrahim, and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.

At a meeting in Brisbane, Australia, on June 26, China attempted to intervene on Pakistan's behalf, saying Islamabad was not a member of the task force. But India, with U.S. backing, prevailed in ensuring Pakistan remains under pressure to comply with the asset freeze.

The United States and India said Pakistan lacks conviction in implementing antiterror sanctions, while China argued that Pakistan was doing enough, though it has only listed unnamed accounts in its reports to the monitoring group.

Hafiz Saeed roams freely in Pakistan, while Lakhvi was set free from a Rawalpindi jail last month. India says Dawood is also in Pakistan, though Islamabad denies it.

Based on reporting by Times of India, The Express Tribune, and IBNLive